Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 GMC Terrain owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact received notification of GM Special Coverage Adjustment Campaign Number: N192266181. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in inclement weather, the driver's side windshield wiper detached and flew off the vehicle while it was set at maximum wiper speed. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where a technician determined that the windshield wipers were corroded, and the driver's side windshield wiper was replaced. However, the contact stated that upon engaging the windshield wipers the following day, the driver's side and passenger's side became stuck together. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,280.
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed in the rain, the front windshield wipers were activated from low to high however, the wiper blades went up and failed to go back down. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the roadway and waited for the rain to stop for the contact to manually push the wiper blades down. The contact attempted to activate the wipers however, the wipers were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
The contact owns a 2011 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH with the windshield wipers in use, the contact attempted to use the high setting for the windshield wipers and the driver's side windshield wiper detached and struck the driver's side mirror. The contact stated that the windshield wiper was replaced. The failure recurred three times. The dealer had not been informed of the failure. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.
my windshield wipers just suddenly stopped working during a rain storm. I managed to get home safely and after a quick search I was able to confirm this is a known problem with GMC Terrain's. It is talked about in Special Coverage N192266180. However this happened during a rain storm with limited visibility. So I am filing this complaint because GMC needs to issue a full blown recall and not a fix for after the windshield wiper system module breaks. Failed wipers during a storm could get people killed. I was lucky but others may not be. I took video of the wipers not working during the storm if you wish for me to send it to you.
Wipers were intermittently working then completely died. Took for replacement and 3 months after replacement motor dies again. Take it back to the mechanic which said it would be a dealership issue. I go to the dealership which they do have n192266180 special coverage adjustment wiper transmission arm linkage failure which they said they would have replaced my wiper motor. However, the special cover adjustment has expired. I feel that this is a safety issue. My wipers no longer work and I am looking for a replacement by the dealership due to a safety issue with the wiper transmission.
On Wednesday, May 19th at approximately 8:30pm I was driving east on I-10 leaving Baton Rouge during a torrential rain storm with family members in my car. As we were driving with the wiper blades on, without warning the driver side wiper blade completely! stopped! It went off to the left and rested on the driver's rearview mirror. It was such a horrifying shock, I had to lean over to the front passenger side to see out of the window with the help of my sister. I tried to slow down to see if we could get off the interstate or whether or not there was an overpass we could stop under and try to fix the wiper. When we stopped under the first available overpass, I tried to adjust the wiper and played with the on off switch to see if I could get the driver side wiper to work again. It never has worked since yesterday. …
As I was driving home from work this evening on a highway at approximately 6:15 pm it started to pour down rain. Due to the rain I was going about 45 MPH. I turned my wipers on the highest speed possible. After about 5 minutes they instantly stopped working and were stuck in the vertical position. The wipers would not move in my attempts to cut them on and off again. It was truly terrifying. Between the rain, thunder, lightning and not being able to see I was really in a dangerous situation. I was able to pull off the road without injuring myself or someone else fortunately. I had to sit there and wait for it to stop raining before I could go home. After doing some research online it appears that this is a problem that you are aware of. This is a serious problem that GMC, in my opinion, is responsible for. …
Driving on a busy highway during a rainstorm and the windshield wipers stopped in the up position. I had to slow down quickly and find my way onto the shoulder since visibility went to zero and there was traffic all around me. You could still hear the wiper motor turning but the wipers wouldn't move from the up position. I had to wait over an hour and a half for the rain to stop before I was able to drive home. Due to traffic on the highway and the rain on the pavement, I was only able to drive at a speed of 25-30 MPH, since traffic was lifting the rain off of the pavement and onto my windshield. This could have been a terrible situation where a severe accident almost occurred due to the windshield wiper motor and linkage system failed. …
While driving home on the highway, it began to rain heavily. I went to turn on my windsheild wipers and they would not engage. I was terrified and could not see a thing. Because the traffic was heavy, I was not going fast, but slowed down even more to afford myself some visibility. I did some research on this problem and found recalls for the 2013 model. I also found websites where other model year owners have detailed the same terrifying default. I called GMC and was told my VIN was not under recall. A mechanic has advised that it sounds like the motor needs replacing because he hears the gears grinding, but this was not an official diagnostic. I did not purchase the extended warranty when I bought the car in December 2016. I cannot believe I have to fork over $$$ to fix an known GMC issue. I have read complaints on the link below from 2010 owners as well. …
While driving in the pouring rain on a busy new york highway both windshield wipers stopped working. They were stopped in the middle of the windshield. Nothing would make them move. I had to quickly pull over and have the car towed. It was unsafe to continue driving in the rain when it was impossible to see. When I took it to the mechanic he said the ball joints in the windshield wiper module corroded resulting in both of the windshield wipers becoming inoperative. This issue was recalled with the 2013 model recall number 16V582000 recall date 08/04/2016 component visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. GM's number for this recall is 25302 but has not been recalled as of yet in the 2011 model and it should be!
NHTSA investigations
Windshield Wiper Transmission Failure
On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.
Front Wiper Transmission Inoperative
On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures. Due to a prior recall, 16V-582, addressing this issue in the MY2013 subject vehicles, MY2013 was not included in the analysis.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Terrain years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2011 GMC Terrain?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2011 GMC Terrain, 9% of the model year's 386 complaints. The component named most often is windshield wiper/washer › motor (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 GMC Terrain window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2011 GMC Terrain, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 GMC Terrain window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.